Joseph fried



(No Modeli) J. FRIED. DEVICE FOR HANGING STAGE SGENERY.

Patented Aug. Q0, 1887.

I; PETERS Phnlo-Lilhgmplwr. Washingiam'Ql-O UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FRIED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR.HANG|NG STAGE-SCENERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of-Letters Patent No. 369,052, dated August so, 1887.

Application filed March 31, 1886. Serial No. 197,254. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, J OSEPH FRIED, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Hanging Stage Scenery, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved device for hanging stage-scenery and appliances-such as drops, borders, &c.the device being designed with a view to secure the horizontal suspension of said scenery without being affected by dry or moist weather, and which maybe furthermore quickly dropped on the stage without requiring the cutting of suspension-ropes in case of fire.

The invention consists of stage scenery which is suspended by ropes that pass over guide-pulleys vertically above said scenery, and over a central equalizing-pulley above the guide-pulleys, and over a side guide-pulley to a counterbalancingweight, which latter is raised or lowered for setting the scenery by an independent rope that is guided over suitable pulleys.

The invention consists, further, of the combination,with the stage scenery and its suspens'ion-ropes, of a safety appliance that is interposed between said ropes and their counterbalancing-weight, said safety appliance being provided with a lever or other releasing device,by which the ropes can be detached from the safety appliance for dropping the scenery on the floor of the stage in case of fire.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a theatrical stage with my improved device for hanging scenery. Fig. 1 is a detail top view of the central equalizing-pulley of the suspension ropes from which the scenery is suspended. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are details of the safety appliance by which the scenery can be dropped on the stage incase of fire;

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame-work of a theatrical stage of the usual construction, and B a drop or border, which is suspended by four or more ropes, G, that pass over guide-pulleys a a. The guide-pulleys a a are supported on the beams b which are again supported on the transverse beams b of the framework A, said pulleys being Vertically above the drop or border. From the guide-pulleys a (b suspension-ropes 0 pass over a central equalizing-pulley, a, that is suspended from a beam, b, above the beam 1),

lower part of the weight E extends a rope, E,

over a pulley, d, applied to or near the floor of the stage, and a pulley, d, suspended from the beam 11 or other suitable point of the loft, and

downward again to the safety appliance D.

When it is desired to raise or lower the stagescenery, the rope E is taken hold of and pulled in downward or upward direct-ion, the counterbalancing-weight facilitating the setting of the scenery to the proper position, as it counterbalances the weight of the drop or border and of the suspension ropes. This method of suspending stage-scenery has the advantage that it is always supported in a horizontal position, whether the atmosphere is dry or moist, as the ropes expand or contract uniformly, for the reason that they diverge symmetrically from the central equalizing-pulley, a. Consequently the scenery is always supported in a horizontal position, and it is prevented from assuming an inclined position toward the floor of the stage, which is very annoying, especially when the scenery is to be raised or lowered during the performance of a play.

The safety appliance D forms an essential feature of my invention, as it facilitates the quick lowering of all the drops and borders on the stage in case of fire, so that the spread of fire is retarded and to some extent prevented.

The safety appliance D may be of any suit able construction, that shown in the drawings consisting of two horizontal bars, 6 e, which are connected at one end by a pivot-link, c and at the other end by a lever, 6 the slotted open ing 0" of which passes over the outer end of the upper bar, 0, until it looks into a notch, 0 of the same, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The ends of the suspension-ropes O are applied to the bar 0 by means of rings or loops f, while the setting-rope E is applied to the bar 0 in the same manner by a ring, f, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In case of fire the lever e of the safety appliance is released from the bar (2 by a quick pull, so that by the weight of the scenery the rings f f are released from the bar 0 and the entire scenery dropped to the floor of the stage. The rings f are large enough to slip easily from the lever, so that theylcannot bind on the bar 0'. The releasing-lever e is provided with a fulerumed and spring-actuated locking-lever, e", that engages a notch, 0 at the outer end of the bar 0, the upper end of said lever being close to the upper end of the releasing-lever 6", so that when the latter is taken hold of the handle of thelocking-lever c is also grasped and released from the bar 0, upon which the releasing-lever c is released from the bar 6 by pulling it forward. The locking-lever e prevents the accidental release of the lever e from the bar 0' in raising or lowering the scenery, so that no inopportune dropping of the scenery can take place.

I do not confine myself to a special construction of the safety appliance D, as manydiffercnt constructions can be designed, nor to any special construction of the locking device for the releasinglever of the safety appliance.

The advantages of my improved mode of hanging stage-scenery are, that in case of fire, instead of cutting the ropes with an ax, which was the mode heretofore employed for lowering the scenery, the same is quickly and effectually lowered by releasing the levers of the different safety appliances, which are all preferably arranged alongside of each other at one side of the stage and at a point convenient of access to the machinist or hands employed on the stage. The entire scenery can in case of fire be quickly dropped on the floor of the stage by simply pulling the levers of the safety appliances, which takes little time and is easily accomplished without exposing the attendant to any danger, so that he is not liable to lose his presence of mind while attendingto this duty.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination, with stage-scenery, of suspension ropes attached to said scenery, guide-pulleys vertically above the same, a central equalizing'pulley above said guide-pulleys, a side guide-pulley, a counterbalaneingweight attached to the suspension-ropes, and a setting-rope connected to the weight and passed over guidepulleys below and above the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of stage sccncry, suspension-ropes passing over guide-pulleys, a safety appliance for releasing said ropes in case of fire, and means for setting the scenery, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with stage-scenery, of suspension-ropes, guide pulleys above said scenery, a central equalizing-pulley above said guide-pulleys, a side guide-pulley, a counterbalancingweight, a safety appliance interposed between the ends of the suspensionropes and the counterbalancing-weight, and a setting-rope applied to the safety appliance and to the counterbalaneing-weight, substantially as set forth. 4

4:. The combination of stage scenery, suspension-ropes attached to the same, guide-pulleys for said suspension ropes, a safety applianee attached to the ends of said ropes, and a locking device for said safety appliance, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH FRIED.

W'itnesses:

PAUL GonrnL, CARL KARP. 

